(The following article was written by Rev. Tom Brock of pastorsstudy.org. ​You can follow Pastor Brock on Facebook - here and twitter - here.)

On the cover of its June issue, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's "Living Lutheran" magazine highlights the below 15-year-old Lutheran who won a Google contest by drawing a picture of people of all religions, LGBT pride people, and gender non-conforming people with their arms around each other. "Diversity is a beautiful thing", she said.

Not too long ago the Lutheran Church encouraged teenagers to follow the Bible's teaching on sexuality. Today, the ELCA highlights those who endorse a lifestyle that the Bible says will exclude people from the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

Back in 2009, when the ELCA decided to ordain practicing homosexuals, they also agreed to allow everyone--liberals and conservatives--to follow their "bound conscience" on the issue. But since 2009, I have not seen one "Living Lutheran" article giving the conservative viewpoint on this issue. But there have been numerous articles promoting the liberal viewpoint. It is most tragic, however, when teenagers are enlisted to support the cause.

John Zmirak wrote in April 2015:
". . . A Two-Tiered System of Churches.
If the court hands the Obama administration the bully stick it is requesting [in Obergefell], it will be creating [has now created] a two-tier system of churches in America — those that 'obey the Constitution' and those that don’t. The first set of churches, including 'mainline' denominations such as the Episcopalians, [will] enjoy benefits much like those of 'registered' churches in China. They have gleefully worshiped Caesar, and so he will leave them in peace."

One thing the ELCA never has to fear: that its Caesar-pleasing "Christianity" will ever be criminalized.

". . .The right to religious freedom can be played against other rights that are considered more important. Thus, religious opposition to certain kinds of sinful behavior can be treated as illegal discrimination. A Christian’s disagreement with other religions can be outlawed as hate speech.

"Another legal argument is taking shape in Georgia, where a college is being sued for not permitting a Christian student from preaching the Gospel, even though he had reserved space in one of the two campus “Free Speech Zones.” (That a college allows free speech only in “zones” is itself a travesty, both of the ideals of higher education and of American law. According to the Constitution, the whole nation is to be a free speech zone.)

"The college is defending itself on the grounds that the preaching constituted “disorderly conduct.” And that by calling people “sinners,” the preacher was using “fighting words,” which are legally outside the bounds of free speech.

"One can envision a time when the freedom of religion applies only to religions that are universalist, permissive, non-proselytzing, and culturally-conforming. That is to say, hardly any actual religions."

Reply

Dave from Minnesota

7/6/2017 05:43:41 pm

If you read the article you discuss above, there are lies in it. For example, the ELCA says:

“In January, President Donald Trump attempted to restrict entry of refugees and visitors from predominantly Muslim countries into the US.”

That is not true. He wanted a temporary hold on movement from 6 specific nations that we cannot vet who is trying to come in. That is different from what the ELCA is saying. Are they ignorant or lying?

In the same paragraph, they talk about threats and attacks on Jewish cemeteries and community centers, implying a connection to the President. They do not say that the threats came from a Jew in Israel who may have been paid by someone to cause disruptions.

Reply

Dave from Minnesota

7/7/2017 07:47:55 am

I read through several more online issues Living Lutheran yesterday. Just a couple of many observations:

-The ELCA says the Keystone pipeline is "racist". I have an industrial background and know a little bit about pipelines. First of all, a pipeline can't be racist as it is an inanimate object. Second the pipeline is perfectly safe.

-They go one and one about discrimination against Muslims. But not a word about anti-Christian bigotry in the US. Nothing on the Little Sisters of the Poor. Attacks on Christian owned bakers and florists.

-The ELCA is obsessed with racism, but is strangely silent on accusations of intense racism at many of its own colleges, such as St Olaf College.

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Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. ​1 Thessalonians 5:21

Dan Skogen

Former ELCA seminary student and former ELCA member who is fed up with the ELCA's consistent mockery of God's Word.

If you have been helped and blessed by Exposing the ELCA's ministry, please help us continue to proclaim the truth of God's Word to ELCA members who need to hear it.